Creative Work

This little corner of the internet houses my therapeutic outlet.

Singing, dancing, and writing poetry have been life-long creative expressions that shape how I approach my work and engage in the world. These creative endeavors are an anchor and a home for me again and again.

~ Rachel

Rachel Wood singing

Singing & Dancing

Billie Eilish Β· Cover

What Was I Made For

Cover

One of the best things about my research in Artificial Intelligence is that it's surfaced a deeply important question on a societal level: what does it mean to be human? What is our purpose? What are we made for?

These meaning-laden questions stir a deeper philosophical conversation worth leaning into. The first time I heard this song, it moved me β€” a stunning and poignant theme many of us can relate to throughout the seasons of life.

Rachel Wood β€” Denver
Rachel Wood Β· Original

Denver

Original

I wrote and recorded this song in college. Late one night I found out the best friend of someone close to me was in a tragic car accident.

I didn't know how to process the pain at the time. So I stayed up all night, and this song poured out of me.

2:51
Rachel Wood β€” Hideaway
Rachel Wood Β· Original

Hideaway

Original

I wrote and recorded Hideaway in 2017, tucked inside a cabin in the Colorado mountains right beside a quiet river.

The crisp air, the cozy cabin fire, the ripple of the stream β€” it remains a core memory that stirs delight and contentment within me.

3:30
Judy Garland Β· Cover

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Cover

This beautiful holiday song was written for the 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Growing up, I watched old musicals with an obsession.

I remember taking a theater class in middle school where the teacher gave us an assignment to lip sync a song in front of the class β€” don't ask me why she didn't just have us sing it β€” and I chose a Judy Garland classic while all my classmates were lip syncing '90s grunge.

Rachel Wood β€” Ave Maria
Franz Schubert Β· Cover

Ave Maria

Cover

This 1824 classic by Schubert anchors me in the classical training I went through during my undergraduate music degree.

1:53
Rachel Wood Β· Original

Warming Up

Original

With any pursuit in life (musical, sports, professional) practice and rehearsal are essential. Putting in the regular, routine reps is where the magic actually happens.

Rachel Wood Β· Dance

Partner Dancing

The style of dancing that I do is called West Coast Swing, which is a completely improvised style of partner dance.

Poetry

Soft is the shape of the season I cling not backward nor clamor ahead Steady and middled for the reason Of trusting I won't be mislead Waiting is the color of the painting Neither oil, nor acrylic are brushed But rather streaks of teary aching For desire- even speed cannot rush I am shelled and unshelled; here between Finding breath in this space of unknowing Lest you peer past that which is seen To observe my exposed undoing I come not for you, but you for me I'll walk by you a hundred and a hundred times But you'll find me as the one without a shell, or so it seems Yet not yours, but to my own you'll pay mind To return to the outgrown would be treason For the other country lies just ahead The journey there far from completion I've a new dawn, a new day to wed
I feel a breath, a rush, a whisk of excitement Greeting me Running toward me down a long, narrow pathway Paved with repeated footsteps Lined with trees in season Echoing words not yet spoken The warmth of you as unknown familiarity Seeing you in me And me in you A clear glass crystal sea Reflecting and refracting sunshine's reality A fur-coat laden wardrobe welcoming me to Aslan's country And my eyes well with liquid The warm, puddly kind That sits on the precipice of the lid Not knowing why Or whether to fall forward or sink back Or just absorb over time My heart, like that tear, just holding its breath Working up the courage to spill over Letting you witness its silent message Feeling shy to exhibit such tender affection Not knowing its origin or depth of complexion I'm holding both sides of this coin I'm a mixed bag with chartreuse and dull charcoal clay Molding my inner prompts into palatable pottery Fired and glazed with feelings arrayed I'm inquisitive and indifferent Expectant and grounded Cautious yet edge-sitting Awake and shielded Cup half full and shattered glass Hopeful and numb Holding out my hand and waiting for the other shoe to drop I'm here I'm here I'm open I'm curious And I'm doubtful That dream ran off a million years ago with a mouthful Of goodbyes But I'm on the other side Perched on land I've planted a flag upon as mine I see you in front of me I see you in front of me And I'm here
It felt easy It felt like a warm cup of tea and a blanket and a book It felt like sleeping in on a Saturday morning It felt like endless green lights stretched out before me It felt like no traffic on the highway It felt like being dismissed from jury duty early It felt like a good movie on a rainy Sunday It felt like spring flowers in bloom It felt like Christmas in the middle of June It felt like Christmas It felt like Thanksgiving It felt like my gas tank never landing on empty It felt like abundance It felt like overflow It felt like security It felt like sincerity It felt like oceanic depth with gorgeous coral reefs It felt like safety It felt like knowing It felt like the lottery It felt like the snow shoveled from my front steps magically It felt like leaning back into my favorite chair It felt like my favorite essential oil diffusing into the air It felt like the favor of being a king's heir It felt like favoring a sugar free gluten free chocolate Γ©clair It felt warm It felt cozy It felt like there was no hurry It felt trusting It felt soothing It felt a clean house I didn't put the work in to This is how it felt to wait for you

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the cover songs. All rights belong to the owner(s). No copyright infringement intended. These covers are for entertainment and artistic purposes only.